Bezekiuk's good relgì. in all the sins of Jeroboam which he, their own gods, after the manner of did; they departed not from them; the nations whom they carried away from thence. 23 Until the Lord removed Israel out of his sight, as he had said by all his servants the prophets. So was Israe]] carried away out of their own land to Assyria unto this day. 24 T And the king of Assyria brought men from Babylon, and from Cuthah, and from Ava, and from Hainath, and from Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel; and they possessed Samaria, and dwelt in the cites thereof. 25 And so it was, at the beginning of their dwelling there, that they feared not the Lono; therefore the Loup Bent lions among them, which slew some of them. 26 Wherefore they spake to the king of Assyria, saying, The nations which thou hast removed, and placed in the cities of Samaria, know not the manner of the God of the land; therefore be hath sent lions among them, and, behold, they slay them, because they know not the manner of the God of the land. 27 Then the king of Assyria com manded, saying, Carry thither one of the priests whom ye brought from thence; and let them go and dwell there, and let him teach them the manner of the God of the land. 28 Then one of the priests, whom they had carried away from Samaria, came and dwelt m Beth-el,and taught there how they should fear the Lond. 29 Howbeit every nation made guds of their own, and put them in the houses of the high places which the Samaritans had made, every nation in their cities wherein they dwelt. 3-4 Unto this day they do after the former manners; they fear not the LORD, neither do they after their sta tutes, or after their ordinances, or after the law and comunaudment which the LORD commanded the children of Ja cob, whom he named Israel: 35 With whom the LORD had made a covenant, and charged them, saying, Ye shall not fear other gods, nor bow yourselves to them, nor serve them, nor sacrifice to them: 36 But the LORD, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt with great power, and a stretched-out arm, hìm shall ye fear, and him shall ye worship, and to him shall ye do sacrifice. 37 And the statutes, and the ordinances, and the law, and the command ment, which he wrote for you, ye shall observe to do for evermore; and ye shall not fear other gods. 38 And the covenant-that I have made with you ye shall not forget; neither shall ye fear other gods. 39 But the LouD your God ye shall fear; and he shall deliver you out of the band of all your enemics. 40 Howbeit they did not hearken, but they did after their former manner. 41 So these nations feared the Lord, and served their graven images, both their children, and their children's children: as did their fathers, so do they unto this day. CHAP. XVIII. Now it came to pass, in the third year of Hoshea son of Elalı king of Israel, that Hezekiah the son of Abaz king of Judah began to reign. 2 Twenty and five years old was he 30 And the men of Babylon made when he began to reign, and he reignSuccoth-Benoth, and the men of Cuthed twenty and nine years in Jerusa made Nergal, and the men of Hamath made Ashima, lem; his mother's name also was Abi, 31 And the Avites made Nibhaz and 3 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all 22 So they feared the LORD, and made unto themselves of the lowest of them priests of the high places, which sacrificed for them in the houses of the high places. 33 They feared the LORD, and served 4T He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brazen serpent that Moses had made; for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan. 6 He trusted in the Lord God of Is The Israclites CHAP. XVIII. carried captive. rael; 30 that after him was none like from Lachish to kiug Hezekiah with him among all the kings of Judah,nor a great host against Jerusalem. And they went up and came to Jerusalem. any that were before him. And when they were come up, they came and stood by the conduit of the upper pool, which is in the highway of the fuller's field. 6 For he clave to the Lord, and departed not from following him, but kept his commandments, which the LORD commanded Moses. 7 And the Lond was with him; and 18 And when they had called to the he prospered whithersoever he went king, there came out to them Eliakim forth: and he rebelled against the the son of Hilkiah, which was over king of Assyria, and served bim not. the household, and Shebna the scribe, 8 He smote the Philistines, even unto and Joah the son of Asaph the recordGaza, and the borders thereof, from er. the tower of the watchman to the fenced city. 9 ¶ And it came to pass, in the fourth year of king Hezekiah, which was the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elab king of Israel, that Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against Samaria, and besieged it. 19 And Rab-shekel said unto them: Speak ye now to Hezekiah, Thus said the great king, the king of Assyria, What confidence is this wherein thou trustest? 20 Thou sayest, (but they are but yain words,) I have counsel and strengili for the war. Now on whom dost thou 10. And at the end of three years they trust, that thou rebellest against me? took it; even in the sixth year of Hez 21 Now, behold, thou trustest upon ekiah, (that is the ninth year of Ho-the staff of this bruised reed, even up shea king of Israel,) Samaria was on Egypt, on which if a man lean, it taken. will go into his hand, and pierce it: so is Pharaoh king of Egypt unto all that trust on him. 23 Now therefore, I pray thee, give pledges to my lord the king of Assyria, and I will deliver thee two thousand horses, if thou be able on thy part io set riders upon them. 11 And the king of Assyria did carry away Israel unto Assyria,aud put them in Halab and in Habor by the river of 22 But if ye say unto me, We trust Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes; in the Loud our God: is not that be 12 Because they obeyed not the voice whose high places and whose altare of the Lord their God, but trangress | Hezekiah had taken away; and bath ed his covenant, and all that Moses said to Judab and Jerusalem, Ye sball the servant of the LORD commanded, worship before this altar in Jerusalem? and would not hear them, nor do them. 13 ¶ Now in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah did Sennacherib king of Assyria, come up against all the senced cities of Judah, and took them. 14 And Hezekiah king of Judah sent 24 How then wilt thou turn away the to the king of Assyria to Lachish,say-face of one captain of the least of my ing, I have offended; return from me: that which thou puttest on me will bear. And the king of Assyria ap pointed unto Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents of silver, and thirty talents of gold. 15 Aad Hezekiah gave him all the silver that was found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasures of the king's house. master's servants,and put thy trust on Egypt for chariots and for horsemen ? 25 Am I now come up without the LORD against this place to destroy it? The LORD said to ine, Go up against this land, and destroy it. 26 Then said Eliakim the son of Hil│kiah, and Shebna, and Joab,unto Rabhakeh, Speak, I pray thee, to thy servants in the Syrian language; (for we 16 At that time did Hezekiah cut off understand it ;) and talk not with us the gold from the noors of the tem-in the Jews' language in the ears of le of the LORD, and from the pillars the people that are on the wall. which Hezekiah king of Judah had 27 But Rab-shakeh said unto them, overlaid, and gave it to the king of Hath my master sent me to thyruaster, Assyria. and to thee, to speak these words? hath he not sent me to the men which sit on the wall, that they may eat their 17 T And the king of Assyria sent Tarian and Rabsaris and Rab shekeh Rab-sheken's blasphemy. 11. KINGS. Hezekiah sends to Isaiah. own dung, and drink their own piss, 2 And he sent Eliakim, which was with you? 28 Then Rab-shakeh stood, and cried with a loud voice in the Jews' language, and spake, saying, Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria: 29 Thus saith the king, Let not Hezekiah deceive you; for he shall not be able to deliver you out of his hand: 30 Neither let Hezekiah make you trust in the LORD, saying, The Loup will surely deliver us, and this city shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria. 31 Hearken not unto Hezekiah: for thus saith the king of Assyria, Make an agreement with me by a present, and come out to me, and then eat ye every man of his own vine, and every one of his fig-tree, and drink ye every one the waters of his cistern: 32 Until 1 come and take you away to a land like your own laud; a land of corn and wiue, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of oil-olive and of honey, that ye may live, and not die: and hearken not unto Hezekiah, when he persuaded you, saying, The LORD will deliver us. 33 Hath any of the gods of the nations delivered at all his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria? 31 Where are the gods of Hamath, and of Arpad ? where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivali? have they delivered Samaria out of my hand ? 35 Who are they among all the gods of the countries, that have delivered their country out of my hand, that the LORD should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand? 36 But the people held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king's commandment was,saying,Answer him not. over the household, and Shebna tõe scribe, and the elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, to Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz. 3 And they said unto him, Thus saith Hezekiah, This day is a day of trouble, and of rebuke, and blasphemy: for the children are come to the birth,and there is not strength to bring forth. 4 It may be the Lond thy God will hear all the words of Rab-shakeh, whom the king of Assyria his master bath sent to reproach the living God; and will reprove the words which the Lond thy God hath beard: wherefore lift up thy prayer for the remnant that are left. 5 So the servants of king Hezekiah came to Isaiah. 6 T And Isaiah said unto them,Thus shall ye say to your master, Thus saith the LORD, Be not afraid of the words which thou hast heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me. 7 Behold, I will send a blast upon him, and he shall hear a rumour, aud shall return to his own land; and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land. 8 T So Rab-shakeh returned, and found the king of Assyria warring against Libnah; for he had heard that he was departed from Lachish. 9 And when he heard say of Tirlakah king of Ethiopia, Behold, be i come out to fight against thee; he sent messengers again unto Hezekiah, saying, 10 Thus shall ye speak to Hezekiah king of Judah, saying,Let not thy God in whom thou trustest deceive thee, saying,Jerusalem shall not be deliver ed into the hand of the king of Assyria. 11 Behold, thou hast heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands, 37 Then came Eliakim the son of by destroying them utterly; and shalt Hilkiah, which was over the house-thou be delivered? hold, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah! 12 Have the gods of the nations de the son of Asaph the recorder, to Hez-livered them which my fathers have ekiah, with their clothes rent, and told destroyed; as Gozan, and Harem,and him the words of Rab-sbakeh. Rezeph, and the children of Eden which were in Thelasar? 13 Where is the king of Hamath,and the king of Arpad, and the king of the city of Sepharvaim,ofHena,and Ivah? 14 ¶ And Hezekiah received the letter of the band of the messenger, and Hezekiah's prayer. CHAP. XIX. Sennacherib slader read it: And Hezekiaa went up into be to lay waste fenced cities into ruin the house of the LORD, and spread it fous heaps. before the LORD. 26 Therefore their inhabitants were of small power, they were dismayed and confounded; they were asthe grass of the field, and as the green herb, as the grass on the house-tops, and as corn blasted before it be grown up. 27 But I know thy abode, and thy going out, and thy coming in, and thy rage against me. 15 And Hezekialı prayed before the LORD,and said,O Load God of Israel, which dwellest between the cheru bims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; thou hast made beaven and earth. 16 LORD, bow down thine ear, and hear; open, Lono, thine eyes, and see; and hear the words of Senna- 28 Because thy rage against me, and cherib, which hath sent him to re-thy tumult is come up into mine ears, proach the living God. therefore I will put my book in thy 17 Of a truth, LonD, the kings of nose, and my bridle in thy lips, and I Assyria have destroyed the nations and their lands, 18 And have cast their gods into the fire: for they were no gods, but the work of men's bands, wood and stone; therefore they have destroyed them. 19 Now therefore, O Lono our God, I beseech thee, save thou us out of his hand,that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the LonD God, even thou only. will turn thee back by the way by which thou camest. 29 And this shall be a sign unto thee, Ye shall eat this year such things as grow of themselves, and in the second year that which springeth of the same; and in the third year sow ye,and reap, and plant vineyards, and eat the fruits thereof. 30 And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah shall yet again take root downward, and bear fruit upward. 20 ¶ Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, That which 31 For out of Jerusalem shall go forth thou hast prayed to me against Sen-a remnant, and they that escape out of nacherib king of Assyria I have heard. mount Zion: the zeal of the LORD of 21 This is the word that the LORD hosts shall do this. hath spoker concerning him; The virgin, the daughter of Zion, bath despised thee, and laughed thee to scorn; the daughter of Jerusalem hath shaken her head at thee. 22 Whom hast thou reproached and blasphemed? and against whom hast thou exalted thy voice, and lifted up thine eyes on high? even against the Holy One of Israel. 32 Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning the king of Assyria, He shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with shield, nor cast a bank against it. 33 By the way that he came, by the same shall he return, and shall not come into this city, saith the LORD, 34 For I will defend this city,to save it, for mine own sake, and for my ser 23 By thy messengers thou hast re-vant David's sake. proached the LORD, and hast said, With the multitude of my chariots 1 am come up to the height of the mountains,to the sides of Lebanon,and will cut down the tall cedar-trees thereof, and the choice fir-trees thereof; and I will enter into the lodgings of his borders,and into the forest of his Carmel. 24 I have digged and drunk strange waters, and with the sole of my feet bave I dried up all the rivers of besieged places. 36 T And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the Lond went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning,behold, they were all dead corpses. 36 So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went and returned, and dwelt at Nineveh. 37 And it came to pass, as he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sha25 Hast thou not heard long ago how rezer his sons smote him with the I have done it, and of ancient times sword; and they escaped into the land that I have formed it? now have I of Armenia; and Esarhaddon bis sou brought it to pass, that thou shouldest reigned m his stead. * Mezeliah's prayer. CHAP. XX. II. KINGS. TNthose days wasHezek ah sick unto 2 Then he turned his face to the wall,] 3 I beseech thee,O Lond,remember now how I have walked before thee in truth, and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore. Manassel's reign fof his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment, and all the house of his armour, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah showed them not. 14 T Then came Isaiah the prophet unto king Hezekiah, and said unto him, What said these men? and from whence came they unto thee? And Hezekiah said, They are come from a far country, even from Babylon, 15. And he said, What have they seen 4 And it came to pass, afore Isaiah in thy house? And Hezekiah answerwas gone out into the middle court,[ed, All the things that are in my house that the word of the LORD came to have they seen: there is nothing among him, saying, my treasures that I bave not showed them. 5 Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the Lono, the God of David thy father, 1 have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears; behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the LORD. 16 And Isaiah said unto Hezekiah, Hear the word of the Lond. 17 Behold, the days come, that all that is in thy house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store untó this day,shall be carried into Babylon: 6 And I will add unto thy days fifteen nothing shall be left, saith the Lord. years; and I will deliver thee and this 18 And of thy sous that shall issue city out of the band of the king of As-from thee, which thou shalt beget. syria and I will defend this city for shall they take away; and they shall mine own sake, and for my servant be eunuchs in the palace of the king of David's sake. 7 And Isaiah said, Take a lump of Sga. And they took and laid it on the bile, and he recovered. 8 ¶ And Hezekiah said unto Isaiah, What shall be the sign that the Lono will heal me, and that I shall go up into the house of the Load the third day ? 9And Isaiah said,This sign shalt thou have of the Loan, that the Loup will do the thing that he hath spoken; shall the shadow go forward ten degrees,or go back ten degrees? Babylon. 19 Then said Hezekiah unto Isaiah, Good is the word of the LORD which thou hast spoken. And he said, Is it not good, if peace and truth be in my days? 20 T And the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and all his might, and how ke made a pool,and a conduit,and brought water into the city, are they not written in the book of the Chronicles of the kings of Judah ? 21 And Hezekiah slept with his fathers: and Manasseh his son reigned in his stead. 10 And Hezekiah answered, It is a return backward ten degrees. was 11 And Isaiah the prophet cried unto reigned fifty and five years in Jerusa- 2. And he did that which was evil in 3 For he built up again the high pla 13 Aud Hezekiah bearkened unto ces which Hezekiah his father had dethem, and showed them all the houselstroyed, and he reared up altars for, |